Regulations, 2015

L.N. 46 of 2015

MALTA FILM COMMISSION ACT

(CAP. 478)

Malta Film Commission Act (Substitution of Schedule)

Regulations, 2015

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 33 of the

Malta Film Commission Act, the Minister for Tourism has made the

following regulations:-

The title of these regulations is the Malta Film

Commission Act (Substitution of Schedule) Regulations, 2015, and

these regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Schedule

to the Malta Film Commission Act, hereinafter referred to as "the

Schedule".

The Schedule shall be substituted by the following

"Schedule

(Article 25)

An audiovisual production shall be deemed to be a "qualifying

production" as mentioned in article 25 of this Act if it satisfies the

following conditions

1. The audiovisual work concerned is produced wholly or

partially in Malta on a commercial basis with a view to profit; and

2. The audiovisual work concerned is produced wholly or

principally for exhibition to the public in cinemas or through

television broadcasting; and

The audiovisual work concerned is

(a)

Feature film

A feature film includes those shot direct-to-video, where

the film is a film commonly screened as the main attraction in

commercial cinemas; and is of a duration of not less than 60

minutes, or in the case of a large format (IMAX) film of not less

than 45 minutes.

(b)

Television film or Television Series or Mini-Series

Television film

A television film means a drama (i.e. a composition which

tells a story through the development of theme and plot, by

means of dialogue and action and the portrayal of characters,

settings, and life situations) of a like nature to a feature film

capable of being exhibited on television where the television

movie is not less than one commercial television hour in length,

or in the case of a programme predominantly utilising cell, stop

motion and/or computer animation not less than one half

commercial television hour; and is shot and processed to

commercial release standards, for cinema exhibition or

international telecast;

Or

Television series or mini-series

Television series or mini-series means an episodic

television drama, including animation, which is either an

extended but self-contained drama made for television wherein

the key dramatic elements of character, theme and plot are

introduced, developed and concluded so as to form a narrative

structure (similar to that of a novel) which features a major

continuous plot enhanced by minor plots and there is the

expectation of an ending that resolves the major plot tensions

and is arranged into consecutive episodes for screening

purposes; or an anthology of drama works for television where

the key dramatic elements of character, theme and plot are

introduced, developed and concluded so as to form a narrative

structure within each episode (similar to that of a novel or a

short story) but there is no continuity of plot between episodes

(although there may be host elements common to each episode)

and is made to be broadcast under one generic title; and is shot

and processed to commercial release standards, for international

telecast.

(c)

Animation

Animation means a full feature and TV animation series

for international distribution whether computer generated or

otherwise, but excluding computer games.

(d)

Creative documentary

A Creative documentary is a project based on an original

theme which contains a certain "timeless" element so that there

is no loss of interest when the event with which it may be linked

has passed and contains significant original filming and does

not merely report information.

(e)

Transmedia and crossmedia productions

Transmedia and crossmedia productions mean film

productions that use different media for telling the same story,

each medium making a contribution to the whole. Transmedia

projects that are linked to the production of a film are

considered to be qualifying audiovisual work

Provided that an audiovisual work shall not be deemed to

be a "qualifying production" if the audiovisual work concerned

comprises or is substanially based on

(i) any public or special performances(s) staged

for filming or otherwise;

(ii)

any sporting event;

(iii) games or competitions;

(iv) current affairs or talk shows;

(v) demonstration programmes for tasks, hobbies

or projects;

(vi) review,

magazine-style,

or

lifestyle

programmes;

(vii) unscripted or "reality"-type programmes;

(viii) advertising programmes or advertisements;

(ix) pornographic or sexually explicit content.".

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